"ENEMY ATTACK"

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24733, 9 October 1941, Page 6

"ENEMY ATTACK"

DEFENCE OF DUNEDIN PROGRAMME FOR SUNDAY A supposed enemy attack against Dunedin launched from Taiaroa Heads is to be defended as a major military exercise by about 700 members of the 4th Battalion of the National Military Reserve on Sunday. They will operate in conjunction with the 3rd Reserve of the Motor Transport Company, which will control a convoy of about 50 motor troop-carriers, together with motor cycle despatch riders. Half the battalion will be transported to Portobello by the waterfront road, and the other half will travel by way of the Highcliff routs to a point above Hooper's Inlet. This section will then move on foot to guard the isthmus separating Hooper's Inlet from Papanui Inlet, while the units operating from Portobello will meet a supposed advance in that direction. This will be the first mobile manoeuvre yet conducted by the Military Reserve, the members of which are eagerly looking forward to an active and instructive day. In addition to normal equipment, the battalion will use trench mortars and machine gins in the exercise, for which the staff headquarters will be located at Portobello. The commanding officer will be Lieutenant-colonel D. S. Chisholm. while the area staff officer. Lieu-tenant-colonel J. G. Jeffery, will also attend to supervise the engagement. The transport officer will be Lieutenant K. S. Brown.

The men taking par) in the exercise will parade at the Kensington Drill Hall at 9 a.m. Special buses will leave all the normal city transport terminals at 8.30 a.m. for Kensington, and before the departure of the convoy for Portobello a church parade will be held. The manoeuvre is expected to finish early in the afternoon, and the entire convoy will return by the waterfront road between 3 and 4 o'clock.